I was assigning a contract one time, and at closing, my attorney told me that we had to escrow 1.5 times a lien amount for a mechanics lien because we could not find the holder.

And I still need to find out about the crane operator. from the wc carrier:Certificate Number: 1xxPolicy Number: 348xxxOrigin Date: 07/16/2004Expiration Date: 07/01/2012Liability Limits:500/500/500(000 Omitted)Proof of CoverageDescription of OperationsTREE PRUNING, SPRAYING, REPAIRING - ALL OPERATIONS & DRIVERSJob Number: empty Location: emptyWill be renewed for the next policy period unless we are otherwise directed by our policyholder.It is agreed that waiver of subrogation is effective only as respects to the above Certificate Holder for theproject described herein.

I've even seen cases where the LLC (investor) shares a profit with the note holder, for allowing them to do so.

Per policy of WAMU i needed to negotiate with the Second lien holder before i can negotiate with them, which was understandable.

It's not a loan, you're actually purchasing part of a property as an equity stake holder.

My second question: Does this answer change if there is only a 1st mortgage and note holder is forced to foreclose and take over the property?

So if the property is sold at sale, the lender gets paid, and the remaining proceeds would go to the lien holder (up to whatever they are owed).  

The HOA has been unable to contact the owners and can't figure out who the lien holder is.

We also make sure to recommend a forward tilt and pull out tv holder, it makes the height view to be adjusted. 

Or at the least, now that the ex-husband is deceased, she ought to be able to force a refinancing by whomever is the current legal deed holder.